Dear friends!

I am very glad to take part in work of the second congress of the All-Russia Azerbaijan Congress today. I am also very glad that the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin takes part in work of this congress. I am convinced that carrying out of the Congress, and also the attention which is given by management of Russia and Azerbaijan to bilateral links, lives and activity of the Azerbaijanis of Russia and the Russians in Azerbaijan, will be and henceforth promote further strengthening of friendly, good-neighboring links between our states.

Creation of the Congress was significant event. As all we know, the Azerbaijanis live in various regions of Russia and for a long time. And, certainly, structural establishment of the organization, creation of the powerful organization, which has rallied around itself the majority of regional structures, was very important factor in the work of consolidation of Azerbaijanis, in work of their more active involving in the public processes, which are taking place in Russia.

Creation of the All-Russia Azerbaijan Congress was a stage of purposeful policy of our national leader Heydar Aliyev on establishment of corresponding structures of the Azerbaijanis living abroad. As you know, on Heydar Aliyev’s decision there had been created special State Committee on work with the Azerbaijanis living in foreign countries, and also the First Congress of Azerbaijanis of all world has been carried out. I am very glad, that the All-Russia Azerbaijan Congress for short time has turned to very powerful, effective structure, managed to unite around itself all regional organizations and is effective working in protection of the rights of the Azerbaijanis living in Russia, and in strengthening and consolidation of our bilateral relations. In this direction, the Congress plays very important role.

With great satisfaction I want to tell that for last years due to efforts of the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin and the President of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyevich Aliyev, the relations between our two states have reached completely new level. It is possible to tell with confidence that they had founded the base of modern good-neighborhood between our countries.

All of us remember the first official visit of the President of Russia to Azerbaijan, which has passed with great success and after which completely new prospects of mutually advantageous cooperation have opened. We again were convinced that Russia and Azerbaijan have great potential of cooperation in all areas. And after the visit of Vladimir Vladimirovich to Azerbaijan, a new phase began in our economic relations. Growth of commodity circulation very evidently speaks about it. In view of that, both the economic potential of Russia and economic potential of Azerbaijan develop intensively, our countries experience, I would tell, the period of economic revival and strengthening of economic power, new prospects for mutually advantageous cooperation of our states, certainly, open.

Our economy has always been closely bound. And today the Russian market for the Azerbaijan goods and the Azerbaijan market for the Russian goods, are, certainly, priority directions. I am very glad that economic relations have reached such level, which will allow us to double our commodity circulation. And the first months of this year show, that we go in this direction very actively.

The level of political contacts today completely is equitable to mutual interests of our countries. Between Russia and Azerbaijan, there are no unresolved problems. All problems, which existed, have remained in the past, and I especially should note significant role in this question of President Vladimir Putin. The relations between Russia and Azerbaijan developed and after independence of both states, but with Vladimir Vladimirovich's coming to power these relations have started to develop very actively.

In the political plan, there were solved very old, chronic problems, which prevented normal development of political dialogue. Today, with pleasure I want to tell that between our countries there are no unresolved problems. There is very high level of political dialogue, contacts. You know, that very active contacts at all levels are carried out, at the level of presidents - after presidential elections to Azerbaijan, it is my third visit to Russia. Also there are very active contacts at the level of legislature, executive authority, cultural, scientific. All this does well for Azerbaijan and for Russia.

We also very actively cooperate in regional questions, in questions of world politics. And on the majority of questions our views coincide. It allows us to act and in the international plan from common positions. It is very pleasant for me that all these achievements allow our people to cooperate even more actively with each other and better to know each other.

I should tell that the attitude to the Russians in Azerbaijan, as you know, always was extremely benevolent. And today it remains so. In Azerbaijan, any Russian school was not closed. In Azerbaijan, it was never carried out any discrimination actions in relation to any peoples living in the country. I should tell that in all state higher educational institutions of Azerbaijan there exist branches of teaching in Russian. If to compare to statistics of the Soviet period I should tell, that in Azerbaijan the number of newspapers has in Russian increased in some times. Also, I think, Azerbaijan is one of few countries where broadcasting of the Russian channels freely are received.

All this testifies to the attitude, to the fact how carefully we concern to our past as far as we want to keep and simplify these contacts, so that new generations of our citizens, new generations of Russians and Azerbaijanis which already grow and are formed in completely other environment, in the environment of independence that they continued those good and kind traditions which have been founded by the previous generations.

In this connection, I would like to note one moment, which also has played very important role in today’s high level of our cooperation. I would stress personal feelings of sympathy, friendship between our national leader, the late President Heydar Aliyev and Vladimir Putin. Between them, there were the most confidential, the sincerest friendly relations. I, say, know it not by hearsay. And, certainly, these relations also in many respects promoted that today Russia and Azerbaijan are partners, I would tell, strategic partners. And in this direction, the same as in all other fields of activity of our country, Heydar Aliyev’s policy continues.

I, on my part, make and shall make henceforth all efforts that those traditions, which have been established for last 3-4 years, were developed and continued. They will bring well-being, peace, calmness in our region, in region, in which the peace still completely has not come, to the region very sensitive, very especial, with special history, with special traditions, in the region in which various nations live, certainly, demands very careful attitude to. I am confident that activity of Russia and Azerbaijan, directed on reduction of risk, by creation of the safe environment region, will promote that the peace, well being and safety will come to the Caucasus.

I want, dear friends, once again to express gratitude for that participation which was accepted today in work of the Congress by the President of Russia Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin. I want to wish the Congress success. I want to wish all Azerbaijanis living in Russia, welfare, happiness and success. Russia is your native land, but also you know, that Azerbaijan also is your native land. We want, that the life of Azerbaijanis in Russia was safe, rich, various. And, it is needless to say, certainly, we want, that those connections which you have with the historical native land, also became stronger. I wish all Azerbaijanis living in Russia, the Russians living in Azerbaijan, peace, happiness, and well-being.

Thanks.

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On October 19, the II Congress of the All-Russia Azerbaijan Congress (ARAC) has ended. The doctor of medical sciences, professor and winner of the State Prize of Russia, corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences Mammad Aliyev was elected as president of the Congress.

The Congress also has elected executive bodies of ARAC.